A number of companies now offer small investors the chance to buy small plots of rural land as long term investments. This activity, commonly referred to as land banking or landbanking, is often illegal and may lead to problems for two groups of people.

The Financial Services Authority has won a victory in its fight against unauthorised businesses after the High Court declared that David Banner-Eve, Stuart Cohen, Asset Land Investments Plc and Asset L.I. Inc. ran an illegal land bank by operating a collective investment scheme without FSA authorisation.

The FSA will also seek orders from the High Court for the payment of at least £15m by Mr Banner-Eve, Mr Cohen and the Asset Land companies to return to investors.

This website is for members only and is specifically dedicated to the Bridgenorth Road, Smestow, Wombourne site which was brokered by the English Land Partnership some years ago. People who own plots at the ELP Wombourne site are invited to join.

SINGAPORE - The courts have granted a time extension - for the third time - to the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) to continue its investigations into landbanking firm Profitable Plots, while awaiting the expert report from an accounting firm.

Representing the CAD, the state prosecutor argued in the Subordinate Courts yesterday that extending the investigation period was justified due to the large amount of investments involved. The court heard that complaints have now risen to 304 with investments totalling S$30 million.

Six companies that mis-sold green belt land for investment to the public have been wound-up in the High Court on public interest grounds following an investigation by Company Investigations ("CI") of the Insolvency Service.

The investigation found that Stowford Place Investments Ltd, ASA Global Investments Limited, Prinston Estates Limited, Alpha Capital Investments (London) Limited, Greenacre Global Partners Limited and Vinci Trading Ltd had all seriously misled the public as to the development prospects of the plots of land they offered for investment and had operated with a lack of commercial probity.

The Financial Services Authority has secured a £920,000 payment for victims of a £11 million land bank in a High Court ruling.

A Hugh Court judge has ruled against Stephen Watkins, who traded as Consolidated Land UK, confirming he sold land illegally to UK consumers and ordered him to make an interim repayment of £920,000 to his victims.